Faith to Drive Out the Enemy

Joshua 17:12–18 HCSB

12 The descendants of Manasseh could not possess these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they imposed forced labor on the Canaanites but did not drive them out completely. 14 Joseph’s descendants said to Joshua, “Why did you give us only one tribal allotment as an inheritance? We have many people, because the Lord has been blessing us greatly.” 15 “If you have so many people,” Joshua replied to them, “go to the forest and clear an area for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, because Ephraim’s hill country is too small for you.” 16 But the descendants of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who inhabit the valley area have iron chariots, both at Beth-shean with its towns and in the Jezreel Valley.” 17 So Joshua replied to Joseph’s family (that is, Ephraim and Manasseh), “You have many people and great strength. You will not have just one allotment, 18 because the hill country will be yours also. It is a forest; clear it and its outlying areas will be yours. You can also drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and are strong.”

Sermon Abstract: Joshua 17:12–18 shows how the tribe of Joseph struggled to fully claim the land God gave them because they were afraid of the strong enemies living there. This passage encourages believers to have bold faith and not back down when challenges stand in the way of God’s promises. In this message, we’ll see how God gives His people the strength they need—not to settle in fear—but to stand in faith and overcome every obstacle with His help.

Introduction

My grandmother was a great cook, who always seemed to have a crowd of people at her house for dinner. Many nights, there would often be a steady trickle of adopted uncles, aunts and cousins from the neighborhood showing up, to see what Ms. Annie Mae had cooked.

She enjoyed feeding people, but “Mama” had a hard and fast rule: Only get what you’re going to eat, and do not waste food. Her saying was, “Don’t let your eyes be bigger than your stomach.” Let’s be honest, most of us have bigger eyes, than stomachs, because we often want more than we can actually handle. We crave more food, more fortune, more fame, more cars, more clothes, more shoes, more vacations, just more of everything. We live in a gluttonous society. But here is the real question: do we have the capacity to manage what we’re asking for? The people of God had crossed into the Promised Land. The boundaries were being drawn. The lots were being distributed. Tribe after tribe was being assigned their inheritance. It should have been a time of celebration and satisfaction. But instead, the tribe of Joseph, representing the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh, comes to Joshua with a complaint.

Despite having been granted a generous portion of land, they insisted it was not enough. They felt crowded and slighted. Because of their numbers, they felt entitled to more. But what they failed to see was that their problem was not the portion; they received, but rather it was with their perception and lack of participation. They had land, but they also had enemies. The Canaanites lived in parts of their territory, and rather than exercising faith to conquer and drive them out; they stalled, hesitated, and blamed others, for not having more land.

And I believe that some of us today are just like them. We want increase without inconvenience. We want elevation without enduring hardship. We want significant success without short-term struggle. But the truth is, God will give us more, but we still have to fight for the fullness of our blessing. He will declare the victory, but we must walk it out by faith. If we do not have the faith to fight, we will not drive out the enemy.

There are too many enemies we allow to linger by tolerating them instead of driving them out (Judges 2:2-3). We often let the enemies of faithlessness (Hebrews 11:6), doubt (James 1:6-8), fear (2 Timothy 1:7), mediocrity (Revelation 3:15-16), and secret sins (Psalm 19:12; Proverbs 28:13) which Paul says so easily beset us, remain in our lives (Hebrews 12:1). These spiritual compromises block us from fully enjoying the blessings that have already been given to us through our Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 1:3; John 10:10).

Please consider your life, and not that of your neighbors. Surely we all want to do better, be better. But what Spiritual enemies have we allowed a place in the corner, instead of putting them away from us completely? Is it bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, or slander that we allow to stay in our lives (Ephesians 4:31). Or have we leased space to lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, or the pride of life to take root in the hills of our hearts (1 John 2:16)?

In this passage, Joshua lovingly but firmly rebukes their complacency and reawakens their faith. He reminds them that their inheritance was not limited by the presence of the enemy, but by their willingness to walk in what God had already promised.

So today, we will learn from this encounter how we too can develop the kind of faith that drives out the Spiritual enemies that hinder the fullness of our joy.

I. Don’t Be Content with Less (Joshua 17:12-13)

Joshua 17:12–13 (KJV) “Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.”

A. Challenged by a Stubborn Enemy (Joshua 17:12)

Joshua 17:12 HCSB

12 The descendants of Manasseh could not possess these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.

The land was theirs. God had already signed the deed, declared the boundaries, and sent them in to possess the promise. But there, embedded like ticks in the terrain, were remnants of resistance; the Canaanites. These were no mere squatters. These were defiant occupants who refused to budge. Their presence was not just physical, it was spiritual. They represented what happens when the people of God hesitate to fully obey the Word of God.

Israel stood at the threshold of complete victory, but stumbled at the footstool of compromise. They had crossed the Jordan, marched around Jericho, and witnessed divine military miracles. Yet in this moment, the scripture says: “they could not drive them out.” Was it that the enemy was too strong? No. Was it that God had changed His mind? Never. The problem was not divine failure, it was human faithlessness. They met a stubborn enemy, and instead of pushing in faith, they paused in fear.

Theological Exposition

When God gives a promise, He also expects a pursuit. Faith is not passive, it is persistently active. The text says they “could not drive them out,” not because God failed, but because their faith folded in the face of friction. You can shout about the promise, sing about the victory, and testify about the deliverance, but if you stop short of obedience when opposition arises, you are surrendering your inheritance to squatters. Some of us have been guilty of letting spiritual resistance talk us out of what God has already talked us into.

This is more than historical, it is personal. Every believer faces a "Canaanite" stronghold that resists the rule of Christ. That stubborn enemy may be pride, unforgiveness, lust, laziness, bitterness, or greed. And when we do not deal with it decisively, it begins to dwell in the land of our soul. What should have been driven out ends up becoming a resident in the house of our heart. God does not want partial possession; He wants total territory. Faith does not negotiate with what God said to eliminate.

Practical Application

We will never conquer what we are comfortably tolerating. If we accept less than full obedience, we will experience less than full victory. Child of God, it is time to:

Declare war on every area of disobedience,

Dig deep into the trenches of trust, and

Drive out anything that does not align with God's Word.

Let me say it plainly—stop making peace with what God called you to purge.

Illustration

A man once planted a beautiful garden beside his house, but in one corner, he left a small patch of wild vines because he thought they looked “natural.” Over the years, those vines grew—not just outward, but downward—creeping into the foundation, cracking the concrete, and wrapping around the plumbing. What started as a decoration became a demolition. Brothers and sisters, what we allow to remain because it’s small will eventually take down the structure if left unchallenged.

KJV Cross-References

Numbers 33:55 “55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.”  

2 Corinthians 10:4–5 “4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Romans 6:12 “12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”  

Hebrews 10:39 “39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”  

B. Comfort by a Serving Enemy (Joshua 17:13)

Joshua 17:13 HCSB

13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they imposed forced labor on the Canaanites but did not drive them out completely.

Joshua 17:13 opens with an ironic tension: “when the children of Israel were waxen strong…”—one would think that strength would lead to obedience. But instead of obeying God's instruction to utterly drive out the Canaanites, they made a calculated compromise. They taxed the enemy. They put them to tribute. In other words, they made the enemy work for them rather than war against them.

At first glance, this seems savvy. Why destroy what you can dominate? Why fight when you can profit? But this is the deception of comfort, it allows what is cursed to remain as long as it feels controlled. Israel traded spiritual purity for economic gain. They let the enemy live, thinking they were in charge. But soon the enemy would outlive them and lead their children into spiritual disaster. What serves you today can seduce your descendants tomorrow if it is not sanctified by God’s Word.

Theological Exposition

There is no such thing as a neutral enemy. You cannot turn a threat into a tool without consequences. That compromise will come back to bite you. That arrangement will become an entanglement. That convenience will turn into captivity. Israel saw tribute, but God saw treason. Because obedience was not optional—it was essential to the covenant. When God says, “Drive it out,” He does not mean, “Manage it well.” He means remove it completely.

Many Christians attempt to domesticate their disobedience. They turn sin into servants—treating lust like leisure, bitterness like protection, gossip like connection, pride like strength. But the Word of God is not given to be filtered through our preferences. It is to be followed in full. If the enemy is still in our house, in our habits, or in our hearts, and if we are trying to profit from it instead of purging it we are living beneath our spiritual privilege.

Practical Application

We do not conquer sin by coexisting with it. God never called us to babysit bondage. If yweu want real freedom, we must:

Confront what we’ve been coddling

Cut ties with what corrupts our trust

Commit to walking in uncompromised faith

God does not bless what we refuse to clean out.

Illustration

A young lion tamer once bragged that he had mastered a trick; keeping a wild lion calm by feeding it just enough daily. As long as the lion was fed, it would not attack. But one day he forgot to feed it. The lion didn't just growl; it mauled. His confidence in controlling a killer cost him his life. And so it is with sin; we may keep it calm for a while, but it will not stay tame forever. What we feed in secret will feast in public if it is not removed.

KJV Cross-References

Deuteronomy 20:17–18 “17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee: 18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the Lord your God.”  

Matthew 6:24 “24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  

Galatians 5:9 “9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”  

Galatians 5:9 KJV 1900

9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

2 Timothy 2:21 “21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”  

II. Don’t Complain for More Territory (Joshua 17:14-16)

Joshua 17:14–16 (KJV) 14 “And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto?” 15 “And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.” 16 “And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron…”

A. Misplaced Frustrations (Joshua 17:14)

Joshua 17:14 HCSB

14 Joseph’s descendants said to Joshua, “Why did you give us only one tribal allotment as an inheritance? We have many people, because the Lord has been blessing us greatly.”

The children of Joseph, descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh, approached Joshua with a bold complaint. They looked at their lot and said, in essence, “This isn’t enough for us.” Their logic? “We are a great people.” They pointed to their strength, their numbers, and their divine blessing as proof that they deserved more. But notice, what they called injustice was actually insecurity. What they labeled lack was actually laziness. They were not mad at Joshua. They were frustrated with their fight.

They wanted more land but did not want more labor. They confused their blessed identity with an entitlement mentality. Yes, they were a great people. Yes, God had blessed them. But what they failed to understand is that greatness is not just measured in what you receive, it is revealed in what you are willing to fight for. Many in the Church today echo this same cry: “Why don’t I have more?” But often, the issue is not the portion, it’s the posture. It’s not that God has not provided, it’s that we have not pursued.

Practical Application

Stop blaming others for what we haven’t had the faith to go get. Misplaced frustration turns us into a spiritual beggars when we’ve already been made a conquerors. Learn to:

Assess personal expectations in light of God’s commands,

Adjust personal attitudes toward responsibility, and

Activate personal faith instead of wallowing in frustration.

Illustration

A young employee once complained to his boss, “I would like a promotion.” The boss replied, “I agree; but you haven’t done anything to deserve it.” He had the potential, but no productivity. Many believers feel underappreciated when, in reality, they have underperforming.

Quotable Social Media Lines

“Stop complaining about the size of your blessing when God is watching the size of your obedience.”

“Great people don’t just talk big—they trust big, serve big, and step out in faith.”

“Entitlement will rob you of spiritual expansion, faith without fight is just a fantasy.”

KJV Cross-References

Proverbs 19:3 “3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: And his heart fretteth against the Lord.”

James 4:3 “3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

Romans 8:37 “37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Proverbs 13:4 “4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”

B. Moving Forward (Joshua 17:15)

Joshua 17:15 HCSB

15 “If you have so many people,” Joshua replied to them, “go to the forest and clear an area for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, because Ephraim’s hill country is too small for you.”

Joshua’s response is nothing short of pastoral precision wrapped in prophetic firmness: “If you’re such a great people, then prove it. Get up, go into the hill country, and clear some land.” In other words, “Your blessing is in your obedience. Your increase is in your effort. You want more? Then do more.” Joshua does not coddle their complaints—he confronts their capacity. He points them not to new land, but to unused land. He did not expand their borders, he expanded their perspective.

This is what spiritual leadership must do. Sometimes, what we call a closed door is really a locked mind. Sometimes, what we think is a ceiling is just uncut territory waiting on us to pick up the axe of faith and the blade of discipline. The same God who gave them the land expected them to clear it. You do not get to be great and lazy at the same time.

Practical Application

God does not expand our borders until we first expand our effort. We must:

Climb into the challenge God has already set before us,

Clear out the clutter of fear, excuses, and laziness, and

Commit to the grind that growth requires.

Our future is often buried beneath the forest of our excuses.

llustration

A man bought a fixer-upper house for cheap. He complained for years about its condition, until one day a friend asked, “Why not pick up a hammer and change it?” What looked like a curse was really a canvas. Many of us are praying for God to move when God is waiting for us to move forward.

Quotable Social Media Lines

“Don’t pray for more when you haven’t worked what you already have.”

“Unused territory looks like limitation until you walk into it with faith.”

“If you’re really great, don’t just say it—go cut something down!”

KJV Cross-References

Deuteronomy 1:6–7 “6 The Lord our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: 7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”

Philippians 3:13 “13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”

Hebrews 6:12 “12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Ecclesiastes 9:10 “10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

C. More Frustrations (Joshua 17:16)

Joshua 17:16 KJV 1900

16 And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.

Rather than receive Joshua’s challenge with humility, the children of Joseph respond with more frustration. They say, “The hill isn’t enough, and the Canaanites in the valley have iron chariots.” They shifted from entitlement to excuses.They exaggerated their enemy and minimized their God. And isn’t that what many believers do when challenged to rise? We cry out for more, but when called to war, we retreat in fear.

Iron chariots were the ancient equivalent of tanks. The enemy looked stronger, faster, and better equipped. But God never told them to compare strength: He told them to walk by faith. The more they spoke, the smaller God became in their eyes. Instead of fueling their faith with past victories, they fed their fear with present obstacles. Let this be a warning: we will never expand spiritually if our focus is stuck on the enemy’s supplies.

Practical Application

Faith must be louder than fear, so we must:

Magnify the strength of your Savior, not the size of our struggle,

Move in confidence, not in complaints, and

Maintain the mindset that if God brought you here, He will carry you through.

Excuses will always be available—but they are never anointed.

Illustration

There’s a story of a young boxer who refused to fight a champion because he saw the man’s record and physical frame. His trainer told him, “You’re so busy looking at the stats, you forgot your own strength.” The enemy may look impressive—but if God is in your corner, you are already victorious.

Quotable Social Media Lines

“If your enemy has chariots, remember—you have a covenant.”

“Stop talking yourself out of a victory God already handed you.”

“Iron chariots look tough—but they’re no match for a God who splits seas.”

KJV Cross-References

Deuteronomy 20:1 “1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”

Numbers 13:31 “31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”

Psalm 20:7 “7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

Isaiah 54:17 “17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”

III. Conquer All The Territory God Has Promised (Joshua 17:17-18)

Joshua 17:17–18 (KJV) 17 “And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:” 18 “But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.”

A. Change of Attitude (Joshua 17:17)

Joshua 17:17 KJV 1900

17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:

Joshua hears their complaint and meets them not with rebuke, but with reaffirmation. “Thou art a great people, and hast great power…” In other words, “You’ve got what it takes, now act like it.” This was not flattery—it was a faithful reminder of their identity. He redirects their focus from their lack to their legacy, from their fears to their Father, from their problem to their potential. Joshua speaks life into their weariness and strength into their sagging shoulders.

Sometimes what people need is not a change in conditions, but a change in confession. Joshua doesn’t coddle their comfort or validate their victimhood. He re-centers their mindset. Beloved, it is possible to be anointed but afraid, equipped but still hesitant. And when that happens, God will often use spiritual leadership to remind us that we already have within us what we need to rise above what stands against us.

Practical Application

If you are in Christ, you are not weak—you are well-equipped. But you must:

Renew your mindset,

Realign with your mission, and

Refuse to think small when God has called you to something great.

Before you can conquer land, you must conquer your limited thinking.

KJV Cross-References

2 Timothy 1:7 “7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Romans 8:31 “31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Ephesians 3:20 “20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

Proverbs 23:7 “7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.”

Illustration

A teacher once told a failing student, “I’m not giving you the answers—I’m giving you back your confidence.” The student didn’t need more instruction—he needed to remember he had already learned the material. Likewise, you don’t need more anointing—you need to act on the anointing you already have.

Quotable Social Media Lines

“You are more powerful than your problem—now act like it.”

“Before God gives you more land, He calls you to more boldness.”

“Stop rehearsing what you lack and start declaring what you carry.”

B. Charged to Take Action (Joshua 17:18)

Joshua 17:18 HCSB

18 because the hill country will be yours also. It is a forest; clear it and its outlying areas will be yours. You can also drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and are strong.”

Joshua doesn’t just speak life, he gives strategy. He tells them: “The mountain shall be yours... cut it down... the outgoings shall be yours... and you shall drive out the Canaanites…” Four imperatives, four responsibilities. You want the promise? Then cut, claim, conquer, and clear. He acknowledges the presence of iron chariots and the strength of the enemy, but he does not back down, he doubles down. Their charge is not based on what they see, but on what God said.

Let me say this prophetically: the strength of our enemies is never stronger than the authority of our God. Joshua does not deny the difficulty, instead he declares dominion in the face of it. He does not say, “You might win.” He says, “You SHALL drive them out.” This is the voice of heaven echoing through the lips of leadership. This is not motivational hype; it is covenant command. No matter how fortified the opposition, the people of God have the favor, the force, and the fire to overcome.

Practical Application

You cannot possess what you refuse to pursue. This season requires:

Cutting down obstacles,

Claiming every promise, and

Conquering every enemy by faith in God’s Word.

You’ve been called to conquer—not cohabitate.

Quotable Social Media Lines

“God gave you the mountain, but He won’t swing the axe—start cutting.”

“Iron chariots may look scary, but they can’t outmatch a faith-filled child of God.”

“Stop stalling and start swinging—your promise is on the other side of obedience.”

KJV Cross-References

Joshua 1:9 “9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

1 John 5:4 “4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Romans 16:20 “20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

Isaiah 41:10 “10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Illustration

Imagine a homeowner who receives the deed to a beautiful estate. The problem? Trees block the view, the yard is overgrown, and wildlife has moved in. The house is his—but if he wants to live in its full beauty, he has to clear the land. So it is with the promises of God. You’ve got the title—but now it’s time to take the territory.

Closing Exhortation

God’s people were never meant to be settlers in enemy-occupied territory. We are conquerors. Joshua reminded the house of Joseph that the promise was still good, the power was still theirs, and the enemy was still defeatable. And I declare to you today, beloved: the same charge stands. Drive it out. Whatever spiritual resistance, emotional stronghold, or generational bondage stands between you and your divine destiny—it must go.

You are not called to live surrounded by what God has already called you to subdue. Rise up in faith. Take the axe of obedience. Swing it with courage. And by the grace of God, drive out the enemy.

Sermon Conclusion

Faith to Drive Out the Enemy Joshua 17:12–18

The Word of God is clear. The people of Joseph had the land, but they didn’t have the faith to finish the fight. They were settled when they should have been striving. They were comfortable when they should have been conquering. They had the promise—but they had stopped short of the full possession.

In verses 12 and 13, we saw a dangerous contentment with less. They allowed stubborn enemies to stay because they did not want the pressure of a fight. They made peace with what God had told them to purge. Then in verses 14–16, they complained for more, not realizing that what looked like lack was really just land waiting on labor. They grumbled at Joshua, when the real issue was their unwillingness to trust God’s process. They blamed iron chariots instead of remembering the ironclad promise of their covenant-keeping God.

But praise God, in verses 17–18, Joshua charged them to conquer all. He spoke prophetically into their hesitation. He reminded them of who they were and Whose they were. He did not deny the difficulty—but he declared their dominion. He said, “You are a great people. You have great power. Now go take what’s already yours.” And friends, that’s the same word God is speaking to His Church today.

You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you (Romans 8:37). The weapons of your warfare are not carnal—but they are mighty through God (2 Corinthians 10:4). But now is not the time to retreat. Now is not the time to excuse the enemy’s presence. It is time to drive him out. Drive out the fear. Drive out the bitterness. Drive out the sin you’ve been tolerating. Drive out the doubt. Drive out the complacency. You have the power—but you’ve got to take the action.

Closing Illustration

Some years ago, there was a woman who inherited her grandmother’s old house in the country. It was beautiful—spacious rooms, vintage hardwood floors, and a wide front porch. But over the years, squatters had moved into the property. When she arrived to claim her inheritance, they refused to leave. They said, “We’ve been here too long. You can’t make us move.”

At first, she thought about turning around. The situation looked too messy. But then someone reminded her, “The deed is in your name. The property is legally yours. They may be strong, but they’re still trespassing.”

So she called the sheriff, filed the right paperwork, and walked up to the house—not in fear, but in authority. And by the end of the day, what once was occupied by squatters was finally under her control. Why? Because she didn’t just claim it—she conquered it.

And that is what God is calling you to do today. The enemy may be squatting on your joy… on your marriage… on your purpose… on your mind… but he doesn’t belong there. And you don’t have to leave him there. The deed is in your name. The promise has your name on it. God says: rise up, take the land, and drive out the enemy.

Final Pastoral Appeal

Beloved, this is not the time to coast. This is the hour to contend. What God has for you will not be won in the comfort zone—it will be claimed in the combat zone. But here is the good news: you do not fight for victory—you fight from victory. The cross has already broken the enemy’s back. The blood has already made a way. The Spirit has already empowered you.

Now all that’s left to do… is believe it, obey it, and drive it out.

One Final Charge (for Social Media or Call-and-Response):

📣 “If God gave it, go get it. If the enemy’s got it, drive him out. If it’s already promised, walk in it. Faith doesn’t fold—faith fights!”